DENVER, May 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Kodiak Oil & Gas Corp. (NYSE: KOG), an oil and gas exploration and production company with primary assets in the Williston Basin of North Dakota, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2014 and provided a Williston Basin operations update.

Financial Results

For the first quarter-ended March 31, 2014, the Company reported oil and gas sales of $257.0 million, as compared to $165.1 million during the same period in 2013, representing an increase of 56%. Kodiak reported an overall 57% increase in quarter-over-quarter equivalent sales volumes with 3.1 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBOE) sold, or an average of 34.0 MBOE per day (MBOE/d) during the first quarter of 2014, as compared to 2.0 MMBOE, or an average of 21.7 MBOE/d in the first quarter of 2013. Crude oil revenue accounted for approximately 92% of oil and gas sales recorded during the first quarter 2014.

Adjusted EBITDA was $179.9 million for the first quarter 2014, as compared to $124.4 million in the same period in 2013. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. For additional information please refer to the reconciliation of this measure at the end of this news release.

For the first quarter 2014, the Company reported net income of $29.1 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, compared to net income of $19.4 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, for the same period in 2013.

Kodiak reported net cash provided by operating activities during the first quarter 2014 of $163.5 million, as compared to $114.6 million during the same period in 2013, an increase of 43%.

General and administrative expenses (G&A) for the first quarter 2014 totaled $13.9 million, or $4.54 per BOE, compared to $10.3 million, or $5.28 per BOE, in the first quarter 2013. The decrease in G&A expense per BOE for the first quarter 2014, as compared to the same period in 2013, is attributed primarily to increased production which offset an overall increase in G&A as the Company has expanded operations. As of March 31, 2014, Kodiak had 214 employees, as compared to 116 employees as of March 31, 2013 and 202 employees as of December 31, 2013.

Lease operating expenses (LOE) for the first quarter 2014 totaled $22.7 million or $7.43 per BOE, an 8% increase per BOE over the first quarter 2013 and an increase of 14% over the fourth quarter of 2013. The increase is primarily the result of winter operations. The Company expects to see a reduction in per unit LOE for the remainder of the year. Additionally, the Company continues efforts to decrease operating costs, primarily by addressing water disposal costs, the largest component of LOE.

During the first quarter ended March 31, 2014, Kodiak incurred total interest expense related to its outstanding senior notes and credit facility of approximately $31.6 million. The Company capitalized interest costs of $8.4 million for the first quarter 2014.

The following table summarizes the Company's sales volumes and costs on a per-unit basis for the periods shown:

Kodiak Oil & Gas Corp.

% Change

Net Sales Volumes Comparison and Unit Cost Analysis

Q1-14

Q4-13

Q1-13

Sequential

Q-o-Q

Net Sales Volumes

Crude Oil (MBbls)

2,677

2,964

1,716

(10)%

56%

Natural Gas (MMcf)

2,310

2,163

1,420

7%

63%

Barrels of Oil Equivalent (MBOE)

3,062

3,324

1,953

(8)%

57%

Average Daily Volumes

Daily Sales (BOE/day)

34,025

36,100

21,700

(6)%

57%

Unhedged Product Price Received

Average Price Received Oil ($/Bbl)

$88.62

$85.09

$90.80

4%

(2)%

Average Price Received Gas ($/Mcf)

$8.56

$6.61

$6.48

30%

32%

Average Price Received BOE ($/BOE)

$83.93

$80.17

$84.51

5%

(1)%

Expenses

Lease Operating Expense ($/BOE)

$7.43

$6.54

$6.90

14%

8%

Production Tax ($/BOE)

$8.95

$8.65

$9.08

3%

(1)%

Gathering, Transportation & Marketing Expense ($/BOE)

$2.25

$2.19

$2.45

3%

(8)%

DD&A Expense ($/BOE)

$29.27

$30.18

$29.38

(3)%

—%

Total G&A Expense ($/BOE)

$4.54

$4.22

$5.28

8%

(14)%

Non-cash Stock-based Compensation Expense ($/BOE)

$1.67

$1.37

$1.91

22%

(13)%

Drilling and Completion Operations

During the first quarter of 2014, Kodiak completed 20 gross (15.2 net) operated wells and participated in the completion of 26 gross (3.8 net) non-operated wells.

Kodiak's drilling operations continue with seven operated rigs which the Company plans to maintain throughout 2014, along with continuing participation in non-operated activities. Well costs continue to decline as a result of decreased spud-to-rig-release times, as well as some cost reductions across the full drilling spectrum.

Pilot Program Update

Downspacing work continues in the Company's Polar operating area. Drilling operations are in progress on the second and third four-well pads in the drilling spacing unit (DSU) comprising the Polar Pilot 2.0. Each pad will consist of two wells drilled in the Middle Bakken and two in the Three Forks spaced approximately 600-650 feet apart within each reservoir. The Company plans to test 16 wells within this 1,280-acre DSU with eight wells in the Middle Bakken and eight wells within the Three Forks.

The following table summarizes production data from the Company's downspacing projects.

Average Production per Well (BOE/d)

Polar Pilot 1.0

30 Days

60 Days

90 Days

120 Days

150 Days

180 Days

210 Days

Middle Bakken (6 wells)

1,020

845

735

666

611

562

518

Three Forks (6 wells)

933

751

645

570

519

471

432

Polar Pilot 2.0

30 Days

60 Days

Middle Bakken (2 wells)

1,040

790

Three Forks (2 wells)

792

606

Smokey Pilot

30 Days

60 Days

90 Days

120 Days

150 Days

Middle Bakken (6 wells)

940

738

648

566

506

Three Forks (6 wells)

659

516

417

357

316

2014 Capital Expenditures

During the first quarter of 2014, Kodiak has invested approximately $208.6 million related to its oilfield operations and leasehold acquisitions compared to its full year capital expenditure guidance of approximately $940.0 million. Additional detail on our capital expenditures as of the end of the first quarter of 2014 versus our full year 2014 budget is provided in the table below ($ in millions).

Three Months Ended

2014 Annual

March 31, 2014

Budget

Actual

Capital Expenditures

Drilling and completion costs

$

890.0

$

204.9

Infrastructure and leasehold acquisitions

50.0

3.7

Total capital expenditures

$

940.0

$

208.6

Divestitures

Proved and unproved oil and gas properties

$

(70.8)

Non-Cash Capitalized Costs

Asset retirement obligations

$

0.9

Capitalized interest

8.4

Total capitalized costs, net of divestitures

$

147.1

Updated 2014 Production Guidance

In late November 2013 and continuing through February 2014, North Dakota experienced colder than normal weather. Due to these conditions, completion and workover activities on both operated and non-operated properties were slowed, resulting in lower than expected first quarter production. As conditions improved in March and continued through April, the activity and production levels have returned to the expected levels. After assessing first quarter production, the impact of asset divestitures, and an update to our non-operated completion schedule for the remainder of 2014, Kodiak is revising its average 2014 full-year production guidance to a range of 39,000 to 42,000 BOE/d, or 35% to 45% year-over-year sales volume growth.

Management Comments

Commenting on recent developments, Kodiak's Chairman and CEO, Lynn A. Peterson said, "We have just completed a challenging quarter as weather adversely affected our activity level. Although the team worked tirelessly through the weather conditions, the impact on our operations was of a meaningful enough size that we believed it to be prudent to reset our full year production guidance."

"During the first quarter of 2014, nearly a third of our completed operated wells were drilled in our Wildrose area of northern Williams County to hold acreage. This is an area with a thinner reservoir section and less source rock that results in lower reservoir pressures and less gas, and corresponding lower production rates and reserves. Wells in this area also have to be put on pump soon after completion, which was delayed because of weather. We are excited about the remainder of the year as our activity is all concentrated in the heart of our core leasehold in southern Williams, McKenzie and Dunn Counties, where we continue to deliver consistent well results."

"Based upon early production our downspacing projects continue to show encouraging results. Through the first seven months of production our 12-well downspacing project in the Polar area has produced on average approximately 100,000 BOE per well, putting them well on their way towards payout."

"Our development program continues to see efficiency gains with both fewer drilling days and fewer days for completion work, helping to drive down our well costs. We currently estimate our completed and equipped well costs, using 100% ceramic proppants, are approximately $8.5 million to $9.0 million, which should be reflected in the later quarters of 2014. As we move toward full-scale development of our core Williston Basin properties, we will continue to look for additional opportunities to improve drilling efficiencies and further drive down completed well costs."

Q1-14 Results Teleconference Call

In conjunction with Kodiak's release of its financial and operating results, investors, analysts and other interested parties are invited to participate in a conference call with management on Friday, May 2, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

Presentation times and webcasting are subject to change at the discretion of the conference organizer. Please reference Kodiak's Presentations & Events page for further details regarding conferences and other events in which the Company may elect to participate.

About Kodiak Oil & Gas Corp.Denver-based Kodiak Oil & Gas Corp. is an independent energy exploration and development company focused on exploring, developing and producing oil and natural gas primarily in the Williston Basin in the U.S. Rocky Mountains. For further information, please visit www.kodiakog.com. The Company's common shares are listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol: "KOG."

Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release includes statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements, usually containing the words "believe," "estimate," "project," "expect" or similar expressions. These statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this document include statements regarding the Company's expectations as to its growth and development including trends in production, cash flow and reserves, the Company's expectations regarding potential improvements in LOE, the Company's pilot program, the Company's drilling and completion program, including timing and improvements in per-well costs, and trends in the availability and cost of oil field services. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, fluctuations in the prices of oil and gas, uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of oil and gas reserves and projecting future rates of production and timing of development activities, competition, operating risks, acquisition risks, liquidity and capital requirements, the effects of governmental regulation, adverse changes in the market for the Company's oil and gas production, dependence upon third-party vendors, and other risks detailed in the Company's periodic report filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Footnotes to the Financial StatementsThe notes accompanying the financial statements are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements and can be found in Kodiak's filing on Form 10-Q for the quarter-ended March 31, 2014.

KODIAK OIL & GAS CORP.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

March 31, 2014

December 31, 2013

ASSETS

Current Assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

15,966

$

90

Accounts receivable

Trade

84,316

108,883

Accrued sales revenues

139,640

121,843

Inventory and prepaid expenses

12,838

11,367

Deferred tax asset, net

19,740

14,300

Total Current Assets

272,500

256,483

Oil and gas properties (full cost method), at cost:

Proved oil and gas properties

3,772,963

3,556,667

Unproved oil and gas properties

572,410

641,644

Equipment and facilities

27,804

27,712

Less-accumulated depletion, depreciation, amortization, and accretion

(694,657)

(605,700)

Net oil and gas properties

3,678,520

3,620,323

Commodity price risk management asset

283

1,290

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $2,302 at March 31, 2014 and $1,980 at December 31, 2013

4,031

3,928

Deferred financing costs, net of amortization of $24,524 at March 31, 2014 and $22,963 at December 31, 2013

40,186

41,746

Total Assets

$

3,995,520

$

3,923,770

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current Liabilities:

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

$

274,833

$

272,858

Accrued interest payable

29,975

24,425

Commodity price risk management liability

31,779

20,334

Total Current Liabilities

336,587

317,617

Noncurrent Liabilities:

Credit facility

700,000

708,000

Senior notes, net of accumulated amortization of bond premium of $1,193 at March 31, 2014 and $1,024 at December 31, 2013

1,554,807

1,554,976

Commodity price risk management liability

264

—

Deferred tax liability, net

157,930

133,700

Asset retirement obligations

17,520

16,405

Total Noncurrent Liabilities

2,430,521

2,413,081

Total Liabilities

2,767,108

2,730,698

Stockholders' Equity:

Common stock—no par value; unlimited authorized

Issued and outstanding: 266,506,464 shares as of March 31, 2014 and 266,249,765 shares as of December 31, 2013

1,030,690

1,024,462

Retained earnings

197,722

168,610

Total Stockholders' Equity

1,228,412

1,193,072

Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

$

3,995,520

$

3,923,770

KODIAK OIL & GAS CORP.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

For the Three Months Ended March 31,

2014

2013

Revenues:

Oil sales

$

237,249

$

155,843

Gas sales

19,766

9,207

Total revenues

257,015

165,050

Operating expenses:

Oil and gas production

57,037

35,991

Depletion, depreciation, amortization and accretion

89,629

57,385

General and administrative

13,918

10,302

Total operating expenses

160,584

103,678

Operating income

96,431

61,372

Other income (expense):

Loss on commodity price risk management activities, net

(24,805)

(15,744)

Interest income (expense), net

(24,550)

(13,810)

Other income

826

426

Total other income (expense)

(48,529)

(29,128)

Income before income taxes

47,902

32,244

Income tax expense

18,790

12,800

Net income

$

29,112

$

19,444

Earnings per common share:

Basic

$

0.11

$

0.07

Diluted

$

0.11

$

0.07

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

Basic

266,292,773

265,328,392

Diluted

269,935,030

267,969,663

KODIAK OIL & GAS CORP.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

For the Three Months Ended March 31,

2014

2013

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net income

$

29,112

$

19,444

Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

In evaluating its business, Kodiak considers earnings before interest, income taxes, depletion, depreciation, amortization, and accretion, amortization of deferred financing costs and debt premium, impairment, gains or losses on foreign currency, the net (gain) loss on commodity price risk management activities less settlements on commodity derivative instruments, and stock‑based compensation expense, ("Adjusted EBITDA") as a key indicator of financial operating performance and as a measure of the ability to generate cash for operational activities, future capital expenditures and an indication of our potential borrowing base under our credit facility. Adjusted EBITDA is not a Generally Accepted Accounting Principle ("GAAP") measure of performance. The Company uses this non-GAAP measure to compare its performance with other companies in the industry that make a similar disclosure, as a measure of its current liquidity, in developing our capital expenditure budget, to evaluate our compliance with covenants under our credit facility and as a component of the corporate objectives to which we tie the vesting of equity-based awards made to senior executives. The Company believes that this measure may also be useful to investors for the same purpose and for an indication of the Company's ability to generate cash flow at a level that can sustain or support our operations and capital investment program, and that disclosure of this measure provides investors with visibility as to the corporate objectives that affect our executive compensation program. Investors should not consider this measure, or other non-GAAP measures such as adjusted net income, in isolation or as a substitute for operating income or loss, cash flow from operations determined under GAAP or any other measure for determining the Company's operating performance that is calculated in accordance with GAAP. In addition, because Adjusted EBITDA is not a GAAP measure, it may not necessarily be comparable to similarly titled measures employed by other companies. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA and net income for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 is provided in the table above.